FORT WORTH, Texas — In the mid-1990s, TCU was excluded from the Big 12 while its former rivals were invited to the new league.

Instead of hanging their heads, the Horned Frogs — who have since been a part of three conferences — kept building athletic programs and upgrading facilities, culminating in a Rose Bowl victory to cap off a perfect 2010 season.

Then the Big 12 finally came a’ calling.

TCU’s board of trustees unanimously voted Monday to accept the Big 12’s invitation to join, a move athletic director Chris Del Conte compared to arriving at “the promised land” in the wake of the university’s disappointments through the years.

“This is living proof that dreams do come true,” Del Conte said Monday night, fighting back tears. “We worked so hard to be here.”

Chancellor Victor Boschini Jr. made the expected announcement in front a packed room of more than 200 people.

The move could provide some much-needed stability for the Big 12, which lost Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-12) over the summer and will lose Texas A&M to the Southeastern Conference next year. Missouri is also exploring a move to the SEC.